A Great Culinary Player For The Foodie
Make it bubbly, the greatest food partner of all times ! Champagne Leclerc Briant Brut Rosé adds a low dosage and complex textures to its food-pairing skills, along with fresh and vibrant apple and pear flavors from a large percentage of Chardonnay and hints of strawberry and cranberry from Pinot Noir.
Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir ‘isabelle’ 2015
Pinot noir is the ultimate Christmas grape, says Merrylees. It’s soft, juicy, elegant, like the finest cranberry jelly you’ve ever tasted. This bottle from California is a phenomenon. Incredibly supple, bright and fresh in the glass, with the ability to age for years to come. £55. At Majestic. majestic.co.uk
Marqus De Riscal Barn De Chirel
Origin: Rioja, SpainPrice: $75 for 750 ml.ABV: 14.5%
The collector on your list will be delighted to add this Rioja to his or her cellar. Cocoa and bramble dominate on the nose with a vegetal note adding dimension. Its jammy, blackberry and dried cherry fruit notes are held in check, giving the wine refinement.
>For more information, visit the official website.;
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Robert Biale Vineyards Black Chicken Zinfandel 2018
If you have a red wine-loving Gen Xer in your life, they probably drank a lot of Zinfandel at one time. It was all the range in the 90s, only to be outdone by the brief Shiraz craze that led to our current Malbec obsession. Zin is great and under-appreciated, so take them back to the old days with this supremely balanced Zin that smells like blackberries and a dollop of oak. It has excellent acidity, keeping the wine balanced with its nice full depth.
The Art Of Giving Wine When You Aren’t Sure What They Like
It’s that time of year when we all start to turn our thoughts to the quickly approaching holidays. Being in the grip of Covid-19 means that the season will look very different this year, but you can still let the special people in your life know how much they mean to you with the thoughtful gift of wine. Most especially with large holiday events not possible, a special bottle of wine will come in handy for small-circle home entertaining.
But how do you buy wine for someone when you aren’t exactly sure about their taste preferences? This has been my all-time, number one, most-asked wine question in my two decades of selling wine. So fear not, dear reader, as I now give as a holiday gift to you this detailed guide. It will help you to buy confidently if you are confused about which bottle would be the best bet when you want to show someone you care.
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Budget: Argyle Vintage Brut
Argyle is an Oregon winemaker well-known for their Champagne-style sparkling wines made with plenty of skill and finesse. The Argyle Vintage Brut costs under $30 and is made from a Pinot Noir-Chardonnay-Pinot Meunier blend in true Champagne style. Paul Gregutt of Wine Enthusiast notes of Argyle’s sparkling wines, “One pioneering winery, Argyle, has been turning out highly regarded bubbly for more than three decades,” and he gave the 2014 vintage a 90-point rating , choosing it for an Editor’s Choice Award. This sparkling wine should still be available and drink well if properly stored through about 2024.
Fords Gin Officers Reserve
Created by and for bartenders, Fords Gins London Dry has become a staple in many back bars. The 86 Co. builds on that profile with the limited Officers Reserve bottling, which finishes the spirit in sherry barrels. Fords Gin Officers Reserve is something Ive been recommending to friends as a gift idea, especially for the holidays, Jose Carrasco,; bar director at BAWK! Chicken & Bar in Sacramento. With its limited release, Im excited that more will be on the market in 2021, but why wait? People love showing up to the party with a bartender approved bottle. The overproof nature of the ginplus big, bold flavors of dry fruit and baking spicemakes it great for an extra hot toddy or even great for a mini martini to start off a festive evening.$40 at wine.com
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You Leave A Good Impression
Wine is a chic product, but not snob and its ideal for any situation: youll surely leave a great impression regardless of the occasion.
Wine, unlike other chic products, such as perfume, for example, is a much less risky purchase: choosing the right wine is easy, choosing the right perfume is not so easy.
Minimum risk and a maximum yield!
Finally, showing up with a bottle of wine gives you the charm of connoisseur and the air of a worldly man : your vanity will certainly be rewarded.
But I highly recommend you get to know the history and characteristics of the wine youre giving as a gift when purchasing it: who produced it, where and how and with what food to pair it with.
So youll also have a fascinating story to tell while giving the precious present.
Come on, surely you can do better than this
Ojo De Tigre Artesenal
With smoky, earthy flavorsnot to mention its immense stateside popularitymezcal has all the potential to become a mainstay for holiday drinking. The 100% sustainably-produced Ojo De Tigre incorporates two types of agave: the usual Espadín from Oaxaca and the less common, wild Tobalá from Puebla. The holidays are all about traditions and rich flavors, and Ojo de Tigre is earthy and herbal which complements the warm and starchy savory dishes associated with the holidays, says Ashly Levi of Miamis La Santa Taqueria. She recommends shaking it up in a paloma or margarita, or drinking it straight with a large ice cube.
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The Best Wine Gifts According To Somms And Industry Pros
Nobody wants to spend December fighting crowds of harried shoppers just to check off their holiday gift lists. The solution to avoid shopping mayhem? Wine.
To compile a comprehensive guide for any gifting occasion, we polled top wine professionals to find out which bottles sommeliers and buyers pick out for those tricky gift recipients.
The wine store can even be a one-stop shop if gift-wrapping supplies are low, too. I like to wrap the gift in a darling wine tote bag from a local shop, says Vanessa Rea, wine director of Eastern Standard in Boston. You can never have too many wine totes.
Think Of Your Recipient
When it comes to wine gift etiquette, knowing what your recipient likes is key. While you may be excited to share your favorite shiraz with a friend or family member, if they prefer sweet or white wine, your gift might not be as well received. Take into consideration what the person youre gifting to likes. There are hundreds of different varietals and brands to choose from, meaning even if theyre picky and only prefer one type, you still have a wide variety to choose from when shopping.
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Groom Wines Barossa Valley Shiraz
Origin: Barossa Valley, AustraliaPrice: $33 for 750 ml.ABV: 14.5%
Groom Wines is a fairly new boutique Australian winery founded by vintner Daryl Groom. Wine lovers may not know Groom by name but theyll know him by reputation. By age 30, Groom became the head winemaker for Penfolds and was the maker of Australias most famous wine, Grange Hermitage.
Grooms own Shiraz is a more demure wine than Grange and its an excellent value for lovers of Aussie Shiraz. Coming from Barossa Valley fruit, this is a dense wine but one with more to offer than jammy fruit. On the nose there are hints of blackberry, currant and exotic spice. Its a wine with great structure, bright berry flavors, anise and touches of mocha and baking spices. The Shiraz lover on your list will certainly agree with this pick for our Best Gift Wines.
>For more information, visit the Groom Wines official website.;
What Kind Of Wine Should I Buy As A Gift
winewines
People Also Asked, What is a good wine for a gift?
9 Best White And Red Wines To Gift in 2020
- A bottle of wine is the perfect gift for almost any occasion.
- White: Rombauer Chardonnay 1.5L Magnum 2018.
- Red: Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014.
- Red: Argyle Pinot Noir 2017.
- White: Marchesi di Barolo Arneis 2013.
- Red: La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 Tinto 2007.
Also know, How much should i spend on a wine gift? Under $25 $25-$50 $50-$75 $75+ It depends on the occasion/recipient VOTE NOW!
Contents
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Best White And Red Wines To Gift In 2020
A bottle of wine is the perfect gift for almost any occasion. Its a great last-minute purchase, to be sure, but that doesnt mean you shouldnt think about the wine you buy. There are over 10,000 varieties of wine grapes in the world and when you step into your local wine shop you might feel like there are 10,000 different bottles of wine in front of you. One good way to narrow down your choice is by thinking about the occasion youre buying for — or by thinking about the preferences of the recipient of the gift.;
To get the party started
You should never arrive at a party empty-handed, and if you arrive bearing a magnum of wine, youll definitely get invited back. A magnum bottle helps take the pressure off your host, because theres plenty to go round! Whether you go for festive bubbles or not, choose something thats easy to drink, and therefore likely to appeal to most of the guests.
White: Rombauer Chardonnay 1.5L Magnum 2018
Wine.com
$159.97 -;Wine.com
To thank your dinner host
Most dinner guests bring their own bottle of wine, but they may all go unopened, as the host is likely to have planned their wine to go with the food theyre serving. Help your wine stand out from the crowd by attaching a note that says, For your cellar or I hope you enjoy this later. However, if you opt for a flexible wine that works with lots of different dishes , there is a chance your wine will be the one thats enjoyed by everyone at the table.;
Argyle Pinot Noir 2017
Wine.com
A Subscription To The Craft Beer Club For Any Number Of Months You Choose
Each month the company carefully selects four different types of craft beer. The boxes are packed with three bottles of each type, totaling 12 bottles. You can select any number of shipments, but you’ll need to know the couple’s address before signing up.
Get the box here for $39 per month with free shipping.
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Budget: Yalumba Museum Muscat
The Yalumba Museum Muscat is an amber-colored sweet wine from Australia, referred to as a “sticky” for its sweet flavor and viscous texture. Like many dessert wines, the Yalumba Museum Muscat comes in 375 mL bottles. It’s a non-vintage sticky that is consistently good, garnering around 91 or 92 point ratings from most wine experts. In 1998, Wine Spectator ranked it #7 of its top 100 wines. It’s a lightly spicy wine with toffee and raisin flavors that’s delicious alone as a dessert or with something like sticky toffee pudding or a chocolate lava cake.
Are There Any Big Mistakes You Can Make In Choosing A Bottle For Someone
ALEX: The biggest mistake I make is underestimating the classics. Everyone loves to see an iconic label on a bottle of wine theyve gotten as a gift. These wineries are household names among wine drinkers for a multitude of good reasons and you cant go wrong giving someone a bottle youve bought over and over again.
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Leave The Bottle Behind
If youre attending a hosted party and your wine bottle gift is left unopened, dont expect to take it with you when you go. Your gift bottle is a token of appreciation for the host, for putting together a beautiful evening for you and your friends or loved ones! Going back to rule number two of this wine gift etiquette guide, there are a few different reasons why a host could choose to not open a bottle of wine once received. If you purchased the bottle with the hopes of trying it at the party, its best to purchase a second bottle for you to enjoy on your own.
Definition Rioja Reserva 2013
Customers tend to splash out on the fancy French names in the run up to Christmas, says Jack Merrylees of Majestic Wine. We see increased sales in prestigious regions, such as white burgundies, such as chablis, chateaneuf du pape from the Rhone and premium rioja. These are all excellent pairings for the Christmas dinner table and really look and taste the part. White burgundy is a really classical match for turkey whilst rioja, bordeaux and Rhone reds are superb with cheese or just to warm up during those long winter evenings. £13.99. At Majestic, majestic.co.uk
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Murrietas Well The Spur Red Wine Blend
Origin: Livermore Valley, CaliforniaVarietal: 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 22% Petite Sirah, 9% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% MalbecPrice: $35 for 750 mlABV: 14.5%
This is a bottle for the wine lover on your list who enjoys the unexpected and will never anticipate a wine with this elegance and restraint to come from Californias Livermore Valley. Murrietas Well is an estate-grown winery that celebrates the climate and terroir of the Livermore Valley. It is clear from their wines that they truly understand which grapes work in the region.
Their 2016 Red Blend is a complex wine for the price, which is why it makes our list of the Best Gift Wines. It offers bright cherry and berry aromas. Its blackberry, black plum and cherry fruit flavors show pleasing restraint and are backed up by vanilla and the heat of clove near the finish.
>For more information, visit the Murriettas Well official website.
Tenuta Col Dorcia Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2015
Gifting an Italian wine lover a Brunello is always a win-win. Like, always. This wine is aging so damn well and is ready to drink now. It smells like cherries, sweet, aged balsamic vinegar, and a waft of fresh soil. The tannins still have a slight grip, but they dont take away from the impeccably smooth mouthfeel due to this wines great acidity. Even though its drinking well now, it can still age another few years if your giftee likes to lay bottles down.
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London Wine Academy Wine And Cheese Pairing Course
Often experiences, not objects, make for the most memorable gifts. After all, theres no point giving someone a brilliant bottle of wine unless you know they can appreciate it beyond the warm buzz of booze. London Wine Academy offers a number of courses in tasting, including one that teaches participants how to pair wines and cheeses. Amazingly enough, says Day, red wine doesnt with most cheeses. Well explain why and give you many tips to make your cheeseboard sing. £69. londonwineacademy.com
For The Wine Connoisseur
You want to please the bride or groom, who will likely prefer a wine beyond;chardonnay, the most popular wine in the U.S., or;cabernet sauvignon, the most prevalent wine grape in the world. To accomplish this goal, just use your imagination.
Marketview Liquor offers a;wide variety of high-end wines;that are sure to please even the most exacting connoisseur.
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Best Wines To Buy As A Gift
Whether youre after a bargain or want to splash out, here youll find the ideal wine to give a loved one this Christmas.
A good wine is a simple, yet stylish Christmas offering. Wine expert Victoria Moore rounds up her top 10 bottles to give as gifts over the festive period we have red, white, sparkling and even fortified options to please every budget and taste.
Moderately Priced: Royal Tokaji 5 Puttanyos Aszu
Tokaji is a golden Hungarian wine known throughout the world for its complexity and sweetness. The 2013 500 mL bottle of Royal Tokaji 5 Puttanyos received 96 points from Wine Enthusiast, and all vintages are highly rated. These are great for drinking now, but because of their residual sugar, they can also age for 10 to 15 years .
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The Etiquette Of Bringing Wine To A Dinner Party
Youve been invited over for dinner, and the expectation is that you bring over a bottle of wine. For many people, this can be a daunting task, but if you follow our tips, youll always be invited back.
When bringing wine to a dinner party, the first thing you must understand is that the wine should always be seen as a gift youre giving to the host. Wine is a thank you for hosting you, so while the bottle you bring will most likely be opened while youre over, one should never go in with that expectation.;Never put pressure on your host to open the wine youve brought, especially if they choose to open a bottle of their own instead.
When bringing over wine, we recommend spending between $10-$20 on each bottle. Where you choose to fall on this range should depend on the occasion and how much you perceive the host is spending to host you. For example, if the meal is extravagant and you recognize your host is going above and beyond in terms of what they are preparing, your bottle should fall closer to $20 and even above, whereas if youre being hosted for takeout and a movie night, a bottle closer to $10 is very respectable.
drop!
The question of whether to bring more than one bottle to a hosts home depends on whether it is just you, or you and a partner, and whether you and the host tend to drink an average amount or an above average amount of wine.
